Prada strikes $1.38 billion deal for Versace after last-minute dramatics
The luxury merger closed at zero hour as tariff uncertainty nearly derailed the deal.
Prada has sealed a deal to buy rival luxury fashion house Versace for $1.38 billion — a $200 million markdown as both brands brace for rising US trade costs and cooling luxury demand.
The deal briefly hung in the balance Wednesday, according to reports that Prada’s founding family hadn’t yet signed off and that talks were at risk of collapsing because of market volatility, but the green light came early Thursday, after a rollback of President Trump’s tariff plan stabilized markets some. Versace, founded over 40 years ago, was originally acquired by Michael Kors parent Capri Holdings in 2018 for $2.1 billion.
Luxury giants are aiming to team up as shoppers cut back on $1,500 handbags. Capri’s $8.5 billion deal with Coach-owner Tapestry collapsed last year after the FTC warned it would stomp out competition in the affordable luxury space. Meanwhile, the ongoing tariff drama looms large, threatening to push up the cost of raw materials from Asia and pile on even more pressure.